UCTV show featuring UC Santa Cruz now available for viewing

The Spring 2010 State of Minds show opens with a view from Cowell College overlooking the East Field and Monterey Bay.Anthropology Professor Olga Nájera-Ramírez is featured in a segment on Folklórico dance. The show closes with a visit to the Digital Arts Research Center at its grand opening.

The 28-minute show opens at Cowell College with a shot of women playing flag football on the East Field below. The camera draws back to show the field and the Monterey Bay beyond on a blustery April afternoon. Host Shannon Bradley then introduces upcoming segments from the Cowell Courtyard.

Anthropology professor Olga Nájera-Ramírez and her research, teaching, and practice of Folklórico dance is featured in a lengthy segment beginning at 20:55. Nájera-Ramírez produced a documentary video on one of Folklórico's most acclaimed choreographers, Rafael Zamarripa. It was that video that first attracted the attention of the show's producers.

Bradley and the UCTV crew visited UCSC for three days last month to interview Nájera-Ramírez and tape introductions to three other stories from other UC campuses. Video taping took place at the Terra Fresca restaurant, inside the Earth and Marine Sciences building, and on the great meadow.

In a fortuitous coincidence of scheduling, the crew's visit coincided with the April 29th grand opening of the new Digital Arts Research Center. The show closes at 27:00 with a colorful montage of scenes from the opening, including a rehearsal of the musical "Hair" as the credits roll.

State of Minds is made available to cable operators around the country. Locally, Comcast cable plans to cablecast the show Wednesday, May 26, at 10:30 p.m. on channels 26 and 72. Comcast also said they will tape the feature for additional viewings.